PAUL WRIGHT

209 games (1995 - 2001)

There is so much more to Paul Wright than scoring the winning goal in the 1997 Scottish Cup final. But that is no bad place to start; his poacher’s strike against Falkirk is the most important of his 72 in Ayrshire.

Killie were fortunate to acquire Paul Wright. In peak form at St Johnstone, the striker suffered a serious injury which ruled him out for over a year. Alex Totten, keen to work once again with his trusted goalscorer, brought ‘Bunion’ to Ayrshire for £340,000 on transfer deadline day 1995. And it was a slow start as Paul fought to regain the fitness and match sharpness required. But, with a full pre-season completed, 1995/96 saw a much better return: 13 league goals. And a year later he finished the club’s top scorer a second time.

Although fondly remembered for his goalscoring - many of his strikes being thunderous drives requiring minimal backlift - Paul Wright’s game intelligence and link up play also contributed to his status as a valued member of a high-achieving Killie team.